Chapter 217: Perverse Fate
The vast, endlessly stretching highlands of Tibet.
Amid them, hidden deep within a steep canyon, stood a blood-soaked palace that buried its very presence.
This was none other than the Blood Cult, said to be currently pursued with all its might by the Murim Alliance.
At the heart of the sprawling Blood Cult palace, the Blood Cult Leader stood tall, having unusually revealed himself beyond the curtain.
Crimson letters of unknown origin were carved into the granite floor.
His robe billowed like a river of blood, and in the eyes of the cultists watching the secret art he displayed, madness flickered.
Raising his hand high above the altar filled with the blood of innocent sacrifices, the Blood Cult Leader shouted.
“Behold─!”
From within the pool of blood, Left Blood Law—who had been known to be dead—rose upright.
Splash.
“O, ooooh……!”
“Left Blood Law has been revived by the grace of the Blood-Heaven God!”
“Blood-Seeded Asura Soul! Descent of the Heavenly Blood God!”
Blood dripped all over his body.
Even his complexion returned, restoring him exactly to how he had been in life—Left Blood Law.
However, in his eyes, there was no trace of the sowhat arrogant reason he once possessed.
Even so, the cultists rushed forward, praising and shouting about the grace of the Blood-Heaven God and the Blood Cult Leader’s secret art.
“Immortality……. If one is with the Blood Cult, they shall enjoy eternal life under the grace of the Blood-Heaven God─!”
“Uooooh!”
“O Blood-Heaven God!”
All humans are born to die, yet the Blood Cult Leader denied this outright.
And the cultists, with not a shred of doubt, cheered like fanatics.
Thus, within the secret palace of the Blood Cult where ecstasy and madness swirled together—
Satisfied by the sight, the Blood Cult Leader faintly smiled beside Left Blood Law, who stood stiff like a corpse.
At that mont, Right Blood Law Narak Gang approached him, holding a secret letter.
He stared at the resurrected Left Blood Law for a few seconds with emotionless eyes, then reported on external activities.
“What happened with the matter you went for?”
At the Blood Cult Leader’s question, his face pale like a corpse, Right Blood Law bowed deeply and presented the letter.
“The contact was soone from the Second Prince’s side. From what I gathered, it seems Empress Ma Juyoung desires the secret arts of our Blood Cult.”
Reading through the contents of the letter, the Blood Cult Leader unusually revealed his emotions and smirked.
“She desires our secret arts…….”
A cold and chilling voice.
Those who could have anything they wanted—why would they send such a letter, seeking help from a cult treated as a public enemy by the court?
For so reason, the Blood Cult Leader felt he understood why.
“The Crown Prince, is it.”
He had heard the Crown Prince was like a Jiangshi—no different from a living corpse.
A tragic royal, barely clinging to life by breathing alone through expensive spiritual dicines under the care of the imperial physicians.
“His mother’s heart must be torn apart.”
It might be because she was about to lose her child.
Or perhaps because she would lose her position, her foundation—everything she had enjoyed.
Even so, for that proud and dignified Empress to ask them for help…
When a person is driven to the brink, they grasp even at straws.
“Look well. No matter how lofty a royal may be, before death, all are but re cloth.”
Only the Blood-Heaven God could allow one to escape death.
“O Blood-Heaven God, is this what you have been waiting for?”
The Blood Cult Leader raised his head as if gazing into the distant beyond, seeking the will of the Blood-Heaven God.
‘…….’
Yet, as always, there was only silence.
Even so, it was fine. At last, the path he needed to walk had begun to reveal itself clearly.
“Still… how peculiar.”
Even in this favorable situation, having experienced several failures recently, the Blood Cult Leader grew cautious.
“What do you an, Cult Leader?”
“I heard the Empress’s faction remains strong even after the Crown Prince fell into that state.”
Due to Hongnakje’s unpredictable whims, it had been reported that the Empress was resisting by centering around the Second Prince Ju Gachi.
At that, Right Blood Law stepped forward and resolved the doubt by ntioning a na.
“Presumably, it is because of that man called Dan Mujin, the Dog-Beating Dragon.”
Hearing the na that had once severed Left Blood Law’s head ntioned again, the Blood Cult Leader let out a hollow laugh.
“How perverse.”
At this point, it could truly be called a twisted fate.
In Shaanxi, where their grand plan had nearly succeeded—
At the cliffs of Liaoning, where they tried to secure the Heaven-Slaying Star—
And even at the Jinju Eon Clan, where they were producing Jiangshi—
Every ti their sches extended, that man appeared and ruined everything unexpectedly.
To think even the Empress’s faction was being troubled by that Troubleshooter called Dan Mujin.
“How strange… how bizarre.”
The Blood Cult Leader crumpled the secret letter sent by the Second Prince’s aide.
Then he quietly gazed in the direction of the Imperial Palace.
“We shall make use of the Empress’s faction, Right Blood Law.”
The enemy of one’s enemy could beco a temporary ally.
The Empress would surely intend to use them as tools, then discard them when they beca useless.
But the Blood Cult was not sothing that could be handled so easily like a re chess piece.
“Prepare for the Grand Technique.”
“Yes, Blood Cult Leader.”
In the Blood Cult, death was rely another beginning.
Though they had temporarily retreated to the edge of Tibet, one day they would return to the Central Plains and spread His greatness far and wide.
Crushing the letter in his hand, he reaffird that resolve.
“So you’re saying… it was the Censor who abducted that courtesan, Master…?”
The uncle’s reaction was one of disbelief.
I nodded at the question from Pak Chil, who had now beco one of the Five Great Disciples.
“Haah… the morals of the Central Plains have truly hit rock bottom.”
Pak Chil sighed in lant.
“And then Cheon Sugong stepped in to handle it, and it seems so kind of deal was made.”
Since it was thanks to the Beggars’ Union that I was able to trace Juwol-a’s movents in the first place, I shared all the information flowing in and out of the Imperial Palace with him.
Unlike the Hao Sect, the Beggars’ Union was still building its intelligence network regarding the Imperial Palace.
“Hoo… that courtesan girl choosing you for the request was truly heaven-sent luck.”
“Tell
about it.”
She probably called
to lure , but of all people, I was the Troubleshooter with the strongest connections to the Imperial Palace.
The more I talked with this uncle, the more it felt like he was suited for our line of work.
Mid-thirties—just the right age.
With our office full of young brats, he’d bring a sense of stability.
And since I was planning to expand the office, I needed more manpower…
But the question was who I should ask to bring him over.
Hwang Geolgae, who ran off after abandoning his position as Dragon Head Sect Leader? Or the Beggars’ Union elder who was practically acting as the Sect Leader?
“By the way, Master, didn’t you say you had another matter besides that earlier?”
I’d figure out who to ask later.
At his question, I pulled out a rolled-up painting from my sleeve.
It was a portrait of a beauty—one I had seen being painted with high-quality tools when I visited Painter Neung Jinsam’s residence.
After persuading him to put down his brush, I had taken this one piece.
“Wait, isn’t this that infamous painting…? Why do you have this?”
“Do you know anyone who’s been buying a lot of these or trying to sell recently?”
“There is. Thanks to that painter flooding the market recently, the price increase has stopped.”
Investors holding large volus always grow anxious the mont prices stop rising.
And the thought of cashing out begins to linger.
I planned to buy those pieces using the money I had previously received from Imperial Concubine Hwang.
“But why? Even now, they’re still quite valuable.”
“I have so exclusive information only I know.”
Soon, Neung Jinsam would stop painting beauty portraits and return to painting beasts.
Those had no demand—essentially retirent.
And when a painter retires or dies, their works skyrocket in value.
“So, who’s the one holding a large stock and trying to sell?”
“The Chairman of the Wanderers’ Guild, Gam Un. But really… you’ve already earned quite a bit recently, haven’t you? You’re quite ruthless.”
As expected of soone from the Beggars’ Union, Pak Chil clicked his tongue in admiration.
“I didn’t really get paid for this job.”
Despite helping both Cheonhwa Pavilion—which overflowed with money—and Juwol-a, who was already wealthy on her own, I received nothing.
It seed Juwol-a intended to offer herself as paynt.
Since I refused, the matter ended awkwardly.
And after turning her down coolly, I couldn’t exactly go back and ask for money instead.
Even I had my pride.
So I decided to earn my share on my own.
Taking advantage of both Juwol-a and Neung Jinsam in the process.
“Anyway, thanks. I’ll see you again soon, Uncle Pak Chil.”
A man who, ever since the Shaanxi Murim Alliance, had advised
not to beco like the forr Dragon Head Sect Leader.
After bidding him farewell, I went to et Chairman Gam Un.
A middle-aged man with graying hair and a long scar, still thriving among wanderers by wielding the power of request brokerage.
The mont he heard my proposal, he looked incredulous.
“I heard you’ve been doing well as a Troubleshooter… but you’re saying you’ll buy these expensive items?”
He presented several paintings, each worth a gold nugget.
As a businessman in the heart of Beijing, he even had seven beauty portraits.
Thud.
When I placed gold ingots and a heavy gold pouch on the table, his eyes widened.
“Where did you even get this money?”
The kid who once worked under him had grown up and was now putting down this much money—it must have been shocking.
“If you won’t sell, I’ll go elsewhere.”
Why ask where the money ca from when it was right in front of him?
When I acted like I might leave, he quickly grabbed my arm.
“You’re in too much of a hurry. Who said I wouldn’t sell? I was just surprised.”
The slowing price growth must have made him anxious.
He likely wanted to liquidate badly.
“Here, take them all.”
He handed over the paintings and swept up the gold eagerly.
A wide grin spread across his face as he felt their weight.
“Well then…”
At that mont, he scratched his scar as if sensing sothing.
“Wait a mont.”
“What is it?”
“I have a bad feeling. Like I’ll regret this…”
Ah, that intuition of his.
Even knowing that, he still took requests from us and caused us quite a bit of trouble.
“Too late. No refunds.”
I activated Whirlwind Steps and slipped out like a ghost.
Five days later, rumors spread across Beijing that Painter Neung Jinsam had retired.
He would no longer paint what people wanted, only beasts for himself.
With supply cut off, collectors rushed to secure paintings, driving prices up.
At the right mont, I brought the paintings to Eun Hwaran.
As expected of a Trading Lord well-versed in rumors and profit, she recognized their value imdiately.
“I bought them recently. I knew he’d retire.”
Others might say it was underhanded, but she looked impressed.
“Oh my, I never even taught you… my little brother knows business?”
Along with massive profit ca her praise.
After taking a small distribution cut, my money multiplied significantly.
“What are you going to do with all that money, Boss?”
“Luxury and pleasure? Not that, right Mujin?”
People always worried like that when big money appeared.
But I was simply moving step by step toward my dream.
“I’m going to buy land next to the Wanderers’ Guild building and build my own business.”
Back when I was a wanderer, I had envied Chairman Gam Un, who set up shop in Beijing’s core district and lived comfortably.
So I decided I’d do the sa.
Ilhong once said even if I built it, it’d be aningless without custors.
“Seeing that building go up will make Chairman Gam Un pretty jealous.”
Jo Harang smirked.
“I support it. That old place was too far from Eunseong Trading Company.”
And moving to the core district ant fewer shady encounters.
“But Boss… isn’t that place also very close to Cheonhwa Pavilion…?”
Ilhong looked at
suspiciously.
“It’s a misunderstanding.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“I ran into Juwol-a recently. She bragged that she received your ‘first confession’ in her chambers… Care to explain?”
“……”
It was true I revealed my situation.
And yes, it was in her chambers.
But why phrase it like that?
“Well then, shall we head to Beijing’s core district?”
I hurriedly changed the subject and left.
“Hey! Explain yourself!”
Ilhong chased after
angrily.
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